Pedro (11) opened the scoring for Chelsea at the end of a well-worked short corner routine which also included Nemanja Matic (21), Willian (22), Eden Hazard (10) and Cesc Fabregas (4), as shown on the graphic above courtesy of Sportsmail's excellent Match Zone service. More stats, graphics and analysis HERE.

Chelsea are on top going into 2017 and perhaps the most ominous aspect of this sequence of victories is that Antonio Conte’s team seem capable of clearing hurdles of different shapes and sizes.

Defend like West Bromwich Albion and they batter away until they find a late winner. Attack like Manchester City and they pick you off with lethal counter-attacks.

Take out the 13-goal leading scorer and the midfield dynamo and Hazard responds with a delightful display of old-school dribbling, like the kid who found a new ball under the tree.

His display was a joy to behold for all but Eddie Howe and the Bournemouth defenders charged with keeping him quiet, and was capped by a penalty, won by himself and coolly converted for his 50th Premier League goal.

Pedro opened the scoring in the first half with a wonderful curling shot and grabbed a third in the final seconds of stoppage time with a deflected finish, though it was later credited as a Steve Cook own goal.

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During the moments when they came under threat, Thibaut Courtois stood firm. The keeper has conceded only twice during the 12-match run and one of them was an own goal. Against Bournemouth, he made fine saves to deny Jack Wilshere and Benik Afobe at key moments in the game.

The only snag for Conte was a yellow card for Pedro, which means he will be suspended from Saturday’s game at home against Stoke. But with confidence soaring at Stamford Bridge and both Costa and Kante back in the fray after serving their one-match bans it will not trouble the Chelsea boss.

The new year games mark the halfway stage in the campaign and there is a long way to go, of course, but Chelsea are purring.

Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea keeps the ball under control as Bournemouth's Harry Arter lingers nearby at Stamford Bridge

Nemanja Matic keeps hold of possession as Lewis Cook and Dan Gosling try to take the ball away from him

Jack Wilshere cannot understand why he has been shown a yellow card by referee Mike Jones

David Luiz and Josh King see the funny side at the end of a tackle which left both players down on the turf

Bournemouth's Charlie Daniels tries to pick a pass out of defence past the outstretched leg of Willian

Pedro picks his spot beyond Boruc to give the Blues the lead midway through the first half at Stamford Bridge

The former Barcelona player leaps in celebration in front of the home fans after finding the net for the Premier League leaders

THE 12-GAME RUN

Oct 1: Hull (A) 2-0

Oct 15: Leicester (H) 3-0

Oct 23: Manchester United (H) 4-0

Oct 30: Southampton (A) 2-0

Nov 5: Everton (H) 5-0

Nov 23: Middlesbrough (A) 1-0

Nov 26: Tottenham (H) 2-1

Dec 3: Manchester City (A) 3-1

Dec 11: West Brom (H) 1-0

Dec 14: Sunderland (A) 1-0

Dec 17: Crystal Palace (A) 1-0

Dec 26: Bournemouth (H) 3-0

Bournemouth arrived with their own plan to stop the win machine.

With Nathan Ake ineligible against his parent club, Howe opted for a system with three central defenders and a packed midfield.

Wilshere tried to break in support of lone striker Josh King with some success in the first half but despite a bright opening and occasional chances, Howe’s team were no match for the Premier League leaders.

Chelsea dominated and Hazard flourished in his central role, which was enough to justify Conte’s decision to leave Michy Batshuayi watching from the bench until five seconds from the end.

Confidence is rushing through Chelsea to the extent that Gary Cahill halted one dangerous break by Bournemouth with a Cruyff-turn tackle, before launching another foray forward.

Chelsea went ahead midway through the first half. Hazard dropped deep, spun and found Cesc Fabregas, who threaded a short pass in to the feet of Pedro on the fringes of the penalty box.

There was still plenty to do as Pedro accepted the ball under pressure, and he shifted it from under his feet before clipping the sweetest left-footer over Artur Boruc and into the top corner.

Four minutes into the second half and Hazard was running at Bournemouth again. When he was tripped by Simon Francis, referee Mike Jones pointed to the spot. The visitors had been aggrieved by a series of decisions going against them in the first half but this was difficult to dispute.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois celebrates Pedro's opening goal for the Blues on Boxing Day

Wilshere complains to referee Jones after being tripped on his way forward during the first half

Adam Smith fires a free-kick towards the Chelsea wall as Bournemouth look for a route back into the game

Antonio Conte delivers instructions to his players from the touchline at Stamford Bridge

David Luiz makes an unorthodox attempt at clearing the ball as Cesc Fabregas looks on

Hazard attempts a rabona shot during the first half of the Premier League encounter on Boxing Day

Francis goes to hold his head in his hands as he watches referee Jones point to the penalty spot in the 49th minute

Chelsea's players mob Hazard after the Belgian got up after being fouled to score his side's second goal of the afternoon

Benik Afobe goes for goal but his effort is smothered by Courtois as Chelsea kept yet another clean sheet

Courtois showed tremendous awareness, after being a spectator for much of the game, to turn the shot to safety

Hazard picked himself up and sent Boruc the wrong way. It was his ninth goal of the season.

Hazard continued to mesmerise with his slalom runs. Boruc saved from Willian, and both Victor Moses and Hazard fired wide when they ought to have hit the target.

Howe sent on Junior Stanislas and Afobe in an attempt to salvage something but his team were increasingly vulnerable on the break and Wilshere hobbled through the closing minutes while suffering badly from cramp.

Pedro completed the scoring with a lung-bursting run and a shot which was helped into the net by a heavy deflection off Cook.

The Spain striker is another comeback star of Chelsea’s return to form and another reason for Conte to feel rather pleased with the season so far.